Chương 79: Chapter 80 : The Master Chef Has Arrived!

Xiao Lei is forty-five years old, about 1. 7 meters tall, wearing a worn white chef's uniform and cloth shoes with thick soles. He has a square face, his hair is meticulously parted in a 2: 8 ratio, with a few gray hairs at his temples and a slightly receding hairline, but he looks quite energetic. His rolled-up sleeves reveal his strong forearms, showing that he is a highly respected figure in the culinary world.

This is the first time Zhou Yan has seen Xiao Lei since arriving here, but the word "Master" comes out of his mouth without any awkwardness, and he feels a sense of closeness to him. In Zhou Yan's memory, Xiao Lei is a strict master who has extremely high standards for him when he is learning to cook. If he makes a mistake, he will inevitably be scolded and then carefully taught again.

Zhou Yan has not mastered the essence of stir-frying and cooking because he has only been learning for a short time, but his knife skills are quite high under his master's strict requirements, making him the undisputed number one among apprentices of the same age in the cafeteria.

"A banquet tomorrow?" Xiao Lei looked at Zhou Yan, puzzled.

"Which family is hosting a banquet and only started looking for a chef today?"

"It's my brother's wedding banquet. We originally hired a local chef, but he got into a collision with a tractor at noon and broke his hand. He can't work anymore. Tomorrow's an auspicious day, and we've been trying to contact chefs everywhere, but none are available. We had no choice but to think of you, Master." Zhou Yan looked at him sincerely.

"A banquet with thirty tables—no one but you can handle that kind of scene."

"Your mouth has become quite smooth. No wonder your business is thriving." Xiao Lei smiled. The kid who used to be so quiet now knows how to flatter people.

"I'm telling the truth, but running your own business really does train you. If you don't learn how to talk, customers won't even come in." Zhou Yan's smile faded, becoming more reserved. In the past two and a half years, Xiao Zhou had spent more time with his master than with his family. Xiao Lei was probably the person who understood him best. Fortunately, after not seeing each other for more than three months, it was clear that the apprentice had become a capable boss, so there was some excuse.

"A banquet for thirty tables is no simple matter. The pots, stoves, bowls and chopsticks all need to be prepared in advance, the helpers need to be contacted in advance, and the braising liquid for the cold dishes needs to be prepared in advance. I only have two cleavers in my pocket, nothing else. I'm afraid I can't handle this banquet." Xiao Lei opened his cloth bag, revealing two cleavers inside, and shook his head.

"The pots and stoves are readily available from the village chef. They were already piled up on the threshing floor yesterday. The temporary earthen stove has also been built. The bowls and chopsticks have been prepared by the host family. The helpers are also readily available from the village. All of these have been contacted in advance. I can take care of the braising liquid. I recently learned how to make it from my grandma."

Zhou Yan glanced at the two gleaming cleavers in his pocket, one a slicing knife and the other a cleaver, and asked with some doubt: "But Master, where are you going with these cleavers during working hours?"

"Why would I go to work? I quit today." Xiao Lei put his bag back on.

"Resigned? Why so suddenly?" Zhou Yan was somewhat shocked. For the past two years, Xiao Lei had been relentlessly suppressed by Wang Defa, even being demoted from head chef to kitchen helper, but he hadn't resigned. Now that Wang Defa was gone, why the sudden resignation?

"This job is boring, I'm quitting. I'm planning to try my luck at a big restaurant in Jiaozhou or Rongcheng, or maybe open my own restaurant like you," Xiao Lei explained with a smile, then looked at him with some doubt: "You learned braised food from your grandma?"

"The economy is developing rapidly now; being self-employed is better than working a regular job," Zhou Yan nodded, but still felt the explanation of his master's resignation was a bit strange, so he explained: "My grandma used to run Zhang's Braised Food stall near Suji Bridge; she was incredibly popular back then."

"Zhang's Braised Food's Zhang Niangniang is your grandma? Her braised food is undoubtedly the best in Jiaozhou. Even your grandmaster loved her braised food when he was alive." Xiao Lei's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he nodded repeatedly: "You've found a very skilled braised food master."

"My masters are all top-notch." Zhou Yan grinned, then continued, "Master, since you're free these next few days, why don't you take on this banquet? My second uncle said they'll charge three yuan per table for the service. You can also give the cook from the village a little extra for his cooking utensils. That'll be a great start for your solo business."

"Three yuan per table? Isn't that a bit too high?" Xiao Lei pondered.

"That's the price the cook from the village negotiated. His cooking skills are far superior to yours. He's worth that price, so you're definitely not ripping it off." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "That's how the market works. You have to charge a good price. If everyone enjoys the food and wants to invite you to host banquets next time, then you can command a higher price."

Xiao Lei looked Zhou Yan up and down, then smiled and nodded, "You've been out in the world for over three months, and you've already seen more of the future than I have."

"Master, so you're agreeing?" Zhou Yan smiled back. Xiao Lei nodded, "Okay, since we have nothing else to do, let's help your brother with this banquet first. Weddings are always busy, and this kind of thing is even more stressful. Take me to Zhoucun, let's take a look at the menu the previous chef made and prepare the dishes we need to prepare in advance."

"Okay!" Zhou Yan was overjoyed and led his master to the restaurant, telling Zhou Jie and the old lady about it.

"That's great, Master Xiao, thank you so much." The old lady thanked Xiao Lei.

"Aunt Zhang, you're too kind. Zhou Yan is my apprentice, it's only right that I help out a little." Xiao Lei said with a smile, "My master has been asking for your braised dishes for many years, always saying he wants to eat your braised beef intestines. If I had known Zhou Yan was your grandson, I should have come to ask you to braise two pounds of beef intestines for him to try again the year before last."

"Your master is Master Kong, the former head chef of the textile factory canteen?" the old lady asked, "Is he in good health?"

"Yes, I didn't expect you to still remember him. My master passed away last year." Xiao Lei said with a smile. The old lady's face showed a look of reminiscence.

"He used to come every three days, each time buying half a pound of beef intestines and a pig's ear. He'd bring his own cup, get two ounces of liquor from Old Zhang's, and sit on the long stone slab at the head of the stone bridge. After eating and drinking, he'd go home. I remember it very clearly." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Xiao Lei laughed, "My teacher's wife wouldn't let him drink, but when he was craving something, he'd sneak over for two ounces.

After drinking, he'd walk around the flood control embankment until he got home, when the alcohol had mostly dissipated, otherwise he wouldn't be able to get into his bedroom. He often mentioned this to me later, lamenting that after the street vendors were banned, he couldn't eat your braised food anymore, and he drank much less liquor, always feeling something was missing." Zhou Yan listened with great interest. Stories related to food should be like this, full of warmth and human touch.

After chatting for a while, Zhou Yan told the old lady about what he did when he came to get the braised food. The old lady nodded after listening, "Tomorrow morning, bring the pig's head and beef shank, and drive me over. I'll watch you cook."

"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded, and the matter was settled. The braising liquid is nourished by the meat; the longer it's braised, the more fragrant and flavorful it becomes. The amount of pig's head and beef needed for the thirty-table banquet is considerable, which will make his freshly prepared braising liquid even more perfect. He's about to start selling braised food; if he does well at this banquet, his reputation will immediately spread.

This is still outside the textile factory circle, full of fresh-faced new customers.

"Will you come back to cook tonight?" Aunt Zhao asked, looking at Zhou Yan riding his bike. Zhou Yan turned around and said, "I'll come back as soon as I've arranged everything. I'll definitely sell all the vegetables tonight."

"Okay." Aunt Zhao nodded.

"Brother, I'm waiting for you to come back and cook!" Zhou Momo waved her little hand and called out in her childish voice.

"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. The group rode their bikes towards Zhoucun. In those days of scarcity, everyone was poor, so extravagance wasn't important, but a lively atmosphere was. Zhou Jie's house was located at the village entrance; the field in front of his house had been leveled and set up with twenty or thirty tables. Six makeshift stoves had been built in front, with dozens of large steamers stacked up to a person's height beside them.

Relatives and friends had all come to help, some moving tables and chairs, others putting up "double happiness" characters and window decorations; the small courtyard was bustling with activity. However, several people sat smoking on the long stone slab in front of the door, their brows furrowed in worry. The village cook had suddenly broken his hand, and the preparations for the feast had been cut short. The Zhou brothers were all trying to find connections, and even their in-laws were helping to contact a cook.

The situation was sudden; where could they find a suitable cook so quickly? The date was set, the invitations had been sent out, and the guests were arriving tomorrow, but the lack of a cook was causing the hosts great distress. Zhou Ze, the second son of the Zhou family, stubbed out his cigarette, his dark, round face full of worry. He stood up and said, "I'm going to Jiaozhou. I have a few friends there. I'll see if I can find a reliable chef."

"Dad, I'll go with you. I also have a few friends in Jiaozhou. If we have to find one at the last minute, we'll have to ask around." Zhou Hao, dressed in military uniform, also stood up. Zhou Ze shook his head and patted his shoulder, saying, "You, as the groom, don't need to go. I'll go to town to find your brother and have him come with me. Don't worry, even if we have to pay a high price to hire a chef from a restaurant, I'll get him back and make sure the banquet is done well..."

"Isn't that Zhou Jie and Zhou Yan? There's a guy in a chef's uniform following behind them. They must have brought a chef back!" Zhou Hai, with sharp eyes, pointed to three old-fashioned bicycles approaching on the road in the distance.

"It really is them!" Everyone stood up and looked towards the village road, their eyes lighting up. The old lady sat on Zhou Yan's bike. The road was too bumpy, so they didn't dare ride too fast. When they finally arrived at their second uncle's house at the village entrance, the door was already crowded with relatives who had been waiting anxiously. Everyone pulled the bike over.

"Grandma," Zhou Hao stepped forward and greeted the old lady first, then patted Zhou Yan's arm with a smile, "Zhou Yan, you've grown taller and stronger."

"Brother Hao," Zhou Yan replied with a smile. His cousin, Zhou Hao, was twenty-six years old this year. He had been in the army for eight years and hadn't been home for over a year. He was 175 cm tall, with a strong build, wearing a military uniform and a buzz cut, looking very smart. His right hand was covered in calluses and scars. His demeanor seemed similar to his uncle's, but less ruthless, perhaps related to the scar near his uncle's eye.

"Zhou Yan, who is this gentleman?" Zhou Hao asked, taking out a cigarette and looking at Xiao Lei. Zhou Ze and the others also looked nervous and expectant.

"This is my master, Chef Xiao Lei, the former head chef of the textile factory canteen, a national level-two chef, an expert in hot-cooked dishes, and the most popular chef among the textile factory workers." Zhou Yan got out of the car and solemnly introduced him to everyone.

"My master happens to be free these days, and at my kind invitation, he agreed to help take over this banquet." Everyone's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and they all breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Yan is so reliable! He actually managed to invite such a chef. The textile factory is the most profitable state-owned factory in Jiaozhou. If someone can be the head chef in the factory canteen, their culinary skills must be excellent!

And being a national level-two chef, there's no doubt about it; he's far superior to ordinary village cooks.

"Chef Xiao, thank you so much for coming. We're counting on you for this banquet!" Zhou Hao quickly took out two cigarettes and handed them to Xiao Lei. Xiao Lei accepted the cigarette with both hands, smiling, "You're welcome. You're a soldier protecting the country, so it's only right that we lend a hand with such an important event as your wedding."

"Master Xiao, thank you so much! Otherwise, we wouldn't know where to find a suitable chef." Uncle Zhou Ze was also full of gratitude, handing Xiao Lei a pack of Hongmei cigarettes, then pondered, "It's just the wages..."

"Just follow the previous chef's terms," Xiao Lei smiled.

"Okay! Thank you!" Zhou Ze grasped Xiao Lei's hand, deeply grateful. Time was of the essence; going to Jiaozhou was impossible, and the price would definitely double. With Master Xiao here, it was wonderful!

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! Found one! Found you a chef!" At this moment, three more bicycles appeared on the village road, the young man riding in the lead waving and shouting from afar. (End of Chapter)